70 billion euros, the amount of foreign trade deficit for the French government plans to announce Tuesday. An absolute record much higher than the previous record set in 2008.

Secretary of State for Foreign Trade, Pierre Lellouche had, in mid-January, revised down from the estimated 5 billion annual deficit, previously estimated at 75 billion. "It's huge, it's still too much, of course," he had complained at the time. "We pay several years for the erosion of our industrial base, the real issue is to reboost the French offer," Pierre Lellouche was analyzed.  

The cumulative deficit of 12 months completed end of November totaled 70.450 billion euros, very marked deterioration compared to the year 2010 (51.455 billion), according to latest figures released by Customs. The projected number of 2011 is also a significant increase on the previous record of 2008: 56.2 billion. The balance of trade in goods between France and the world was again negative starting in 2003. But, in addition to structural reasons regularly cited by the Minister and industry-related and lack of medium-sized companies, competitiveness in cost, capacity to innovate enough, economists emphasize the role of energy bill.

It helped itself to some 60 billion deficit last year, said Christophe Blot, of the French Observatory of Economic Conditions (OFCE). "It is clear that energy has had a very negative impact", with a 39% increase in annual average oil prices, said Alberto Balboni for his part, the analyst firm Xerfi. Note also the slowdown in trading partner of France, he notes. However, after excluding these two factors of energy and economic crisis, there is on "long-term non-energy deficit that is growing since the early 2000s," he says.

Small increase in French exports

There is a "structural trend of the industry side to record deficits, which is associated with deindustrialization," added Balboni. The year 2011 is a case, all sectors of industry have led to a widening deficit, "says he. Areas already in deficit, including automotive and textile industries, have increased their negative balance and others "who are a little florets of French foreign trade as the aerospace industry but also the pharmaceutical industry saw their surpluses shrink ".

Hence the debate of the current presidential campaign in France on the lack of medium-sized companies (250 to 5000 employees) capable of launching export, innovation and competitiveness, both in its component price and non-price component, say the economists. Elements of "hard to quantify" but based primarily "on the question of whether there are resources that could find through the trade to improve our performance in terms of growth," explains Christophe Blot.

It is observed that French exports in 2011 grew less than those of Germany, but also that exports from Italy, Spain, UK and U.S.. The global market share captured by France and has deteriorated significantly since 1990 from 6.2% to 3.6%. For 2012, it is possible to expect an improvement on the side of oil prices that are on the downside, the average Brent price from 123 dollars a barrel in April to 108 in December. But the trend depreciation of the euro could partly neutralize this effect.

The U.S. operator and Deutsche Telekom, parent company of T-Mobile, ensured continued efforts to obtain the green light by U.S. antitrust authorities to repurchase $ 39 billion, which could threaten thousands of jobs but they withdrew the case filed with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the regulator of the sector in the United States.

"This formal approach is taken today by the two companies to consolidate their forces and focus their efforts to obtain antitrust approval from the Department of Justice", said the companies.

"AT & T and Deutsche Telekom keep the goal in the sale of AT & T, Deutsche Telekom's mobile operations in the United States," said the statement, published on Thanksgiving Day, a holiday in the United States.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the FCC opposing the operation, which could only be reduced to three the number of national mobile operators.

A green light from the FCC would be useless without the DOJ.

Mizuho Financial Group announced the elimination of these positions, which represent about 5% of its workforce, by March 2016 in connection with the merger of its retail banking and business.

Half the income of Mizuho Financial Group, the second Japanese bank by assets, fell by a quarter, partly due to a drop in trading revenue bond.

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMFG), the third Japanese bank whose profits also fell by 25%, said it would repurchase up to 50 billion yen (476 million) of its own shares or 1.63 % of its claims.

"The profitability of their core business remains low in Japan, including disposals of investments and sales of insurance products, which remain low," he said of Mizuho and SMFG Chikako Horiuchi, an analyst at Fitch Ratings in Tokyo.

"Times are tough for their brokerage. So the question is whether they are capable or not boost their activities abroad."

The prospect of the Japanese economy is overshadowed by a strong yen and weak global demand.

Last week, Germany's second largest bank, owned 25% by the German federal state, however, had said she would not resort to state aid.

"The third quarter results of Commerzbank highlight the growing challenge of strengthening its equity while the growth of its main activities pick up," reads a note from Fitch.

"Fitch expects that any additional capital are the result of the state."

Commerzbank declined to comment on this post.

The Italian government said Wednesday in a statement the convening of an extraordinary cabinet meeting Wednesday to 20h to adopt anti-crisis measures before the G20 summit on Thursday. "The cabinet is convened today at 20h," said the presidency in a news brief in giving details of the proposed measures.

The Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Matteoli, said the Cabinet would adopt a decree containing 'urgent measures' among those promised last week by the prime minister Silvio Berlusconi to its European partners.Berlusconi insists on arriving Thursday at the G20 in Cannes with a first set of measures to boost growth and reduce the huge debt of 1.900 billion euro (about 120% of GDP), to bring it to the immune to the contagion of debt crisis.

According to Italian media, the measures envisaged by the Government on such disposals of public assets, reforming the labor market, a recovery plan South disadvantage, infrastructure, liberalization of professions or simplified administration. But other measures "shock" would not be excluded as a small wealth tax or a tax point of current accounts.

The euro area has suddenly plunged into turmoil Tuesday after the surprise announcement of a referendum in Greece, Prime Minister George Papandreou playing his all facing strong internal opposition, the risk of default in payment of his country .

Around 1:45 p.m., here is what the state of European stock: -5.07% for the CAC 40 in Paris, -5.32% in Frankfurt, -6.26% in Milan, -3.09% in London .. . To monitor in real time here.

After the lull that had received the results of the EU summit last Thursday, which gave birth to a debt reduction plan for Greece, the announcement of a referendum in Greece has "taken the market by surprise and shocked," said the broker IG Markets in Paris.

According to a government source, the referendum, the first organized in the country since the one that abolished the monarchy in 1974, will speak "about January."Papandreou had raised vertiginieusement setting, wondering if he had at least warned its major counterparts, first and foremost the German chancellor Angela Merkel.

In Paris, the French presidency announced that the head of state Nicolas Sarkozy would call Merkel in mid-day.

For political scientist Nikolapopoulos Ilias, this gamble is a decision potentially "suicidal for the country," jeopardizing the delicate negotiations that began after the Brussels agreement with the holders of private debt to Greek they erase nearly a third cheaper for them a loss of 50%.

"It adds to the uncertainty, which is never good for markets, wondering if all the scaffolding assembled by the euro area may collapse if 'no' to the referendum," commented echoing Michalis Matsourakis, chief economist at the Greek bank Alpha Bank.

He said Mr.

The automaker said that 2,500 jobs would be lost in the structure functions, while the enrollment decline in production is estimated at 1,000 positions.

In addition 2,500 jobs will be cut in 2012 from the external service providers, for a total of 6,000 posts in less next year.

"These measures (the structures of the group) is to simplify the structures of the group or an adjustment of the load of projects, particularly in trade, marketing, information technology and research and development," said PSA a statement issued after a special meeting of the European group committee.

The group did not specify the impact of these decisions on its workforce in France.

The manufacturer issued Wednesday its second warning in three months on its 2011 results due to degradation of the European car market and supply problems he encountered in the fall.

Richard Sulik, 43, head of the unicameral Parliament of Slovakia and Freedom and Solidarity Party ("SAS"), is an ultra-liberal economist torpedo approval Bratislava strengthening the European Relief Fund (EFSF). According to the founder of the party in 2009 SaS, the EFSF is "a road to socialism."

In 2010, the party enters with great fanfare the Government, through its platform advocating fiscal consolidation, privatization, the legalization of same-sex couples and the decriminalization of marijuana. At the initiative of the man with glasses, bald and of medium size, a referendum is held three months after the election, focusing on the immunity of deputies, the privileges of politicians and use by these luxury cars.

But future historians may recall in particular the month of October 2011, when Richard Sulik has torpedoed the European security, to help indebted countries in the euro area. "We are witnessing an attempt to resolve the debt crisis with even more debt.It's as if someone was trying to extinguish a fire with a fan, "he recently told AFP.

The Slovaks are too poor to pay for the mistakes of others, he repeats often. The future "executioner" of the European bailout fund was born January 12, 1968 in Bratislava, in a family that emigrated twelve years later in West Germany at the time. Passion for economics and physics, he completed his university studies in Munich. In 1991, two years after the "Velvet Revolution" anti-communism in the former Czechoslovakia split amicably in the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993, he returned to his homeland to go into business.

For ten years he led his company FaxCOPY.In 2003 he graduated from the Economic University in Bratislava, before appearing shortly after one of the authors of a radical tax reform introducing a flat tax (flat tax) of 19%. In 2005-06, he was advisor to the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, a Christian Democrat named Iveta Radicova, future Prime Minister. In 2006-07, he served as advisor to the then finance minister, Jan POČIATEK.

Unconditional cigars, Richard Sulik is often pilloried for his little formal clothing. Even as head of Parliament, it is often the tie. Richard Sulik, who speaks German and English, is divorced. He is the father of four children with his former wife and her current companion.

Former director of cabinet of Nicolas Sarkozy during his visit to the Department of Budget from 1993 to 1995, Pierre Mariani, however, has worked hard over the last three years by taking the uniform fire to extinguish the fire and Dexia lead a restructuring forced march.

"Mariani is a very fast," said a banker close to Dexia in Paris on condition of anonymity.

"Professionally he is a fairly effective and very familiar with his subjects," recalls a former associate who declined to be named. "Humanly by cons is not always obvious. It is hard enough with his team."

Yet some wonder now if not just too late to restructure Dexia staying too long in a position of crisis management, even if not necessarily liable for the current situation.

"Mr. Mariani is a fireman," said Michel de Herde and for the Budget of Schaerbeek, Brussels and a joint shareholder of Dexia."He fought hard but failed to escape the flames."

Others accuse him an authoritarian style that led to the departure of several senior bank officials, such as Stefaan Decraene, the Chairman of the Management Board of Dexia Bank Belgium, last month.

AFTER NEGOTIATIONS WITH BRUSSELS

In 2010, after months of tough negotiations with the European Commission, there is no exception, with his right arm Alexandre Joly, the weight loss abroad imposed by Brussels in return for aid received during the financial crisis .But the two men managed to save some furniture.

If Dexia undertakes to sell certain subsidiaries of the bank abroad, including Spain, Italy and Slovakia, however, the bank saves its Turkish subsidiary Denizbank considered the "nugget" of the bank.

Pierre Mariani will recognize later that the party was far from over.

Fort recovery accounts in 2009, the Group CEO opposes any subsequent split of the Franco-Belgian bank even if it is given in the wings behind rumors of merger with other banks, late as 2008 with the Postal Bank with which Dexia has an agreement for funding.

However, the debt crisis in the euro area continues to worsen.The Management Board of Dexia has no choice but to accelerate disposals last spring in its portfolio of toxic assets.

Eventually the bank will sign the second quarter of 2011 the heaviest loss in its history with a net loss of four billion euros.

But nothing works.With the crisis and tensions in the interbank market, Dexia sees its liquidity situation deteriorate, leading the bank in a bind.

RUMORS OF DEPARTURE

Pierre Mariani, who had set out to reduce the size of Dexia's balance sheet, however, had tried last year to convince markets of the ability of the bank to remain independent and living independently at the cost of a radical refocusing its activities in retail banking based on the Belgian and Turkish.

But analysts also had several occasions to question his real commitment to stay in control of Dexia.

In 2010, the press and echoed rumors that he could have replaced Claude Gueant as Secretary General of the Elysee.

The rumor also gave it as a possible successor as CEO Baudouin Prot, BNP Paribas in place of any dolphin named Jean-Laurent Bonnafé.

Born in 1957 in Rabat, Morocco, the man knows the house where he led retail banking abroad before moving Dexia.

A graduate of HEC, technocrat and inspector of finance, he joined the bank in the rue d'Antin in 1996 after starting his career in senior management.

He then played a leading role in the acquisition of the Italian BNL, the first major foreign network acquired by BNP Paribas in 2006.

But then he had to give way to Jean-Laurent Bonnafé, then head of the network in France which, after assuring the successful integration of BNL, has been promoted to chief operating officer of the group.

Note of Italy fell from AA-to A + and that of Spain AA + to AA-.The prospect of the two countries is negative, suggesting that further downgrades are possible.

Italy and Spain are directly affected by the crisis in the euro area in that they depend on the European Central Bank (ECB) to place their bonds and avoiding the yields demanded reach unmanageable proportions.

"A comprehensive and credible solution to the crisis in the euro area is politically and technically difficult and will take time to implement," said Fitch.

Italy has recently been downgraded by Moody's and Standard & Poor's.Market sentiment towards the country was affected by the hesitant reaction of the government, initially, to higher yields.

The euro fell to the announcement of downgrades, as Wall Street.Analysts say, however, that the decision on Italy was entirely predictable.

"The reasons for Fitch are not so different from the other two agencies, I do not think the markets will react a lot," said Alessandro Tentori (BNP Paribas).

Paolo Pizzoli, an analyst at ING, sees the decision of Fitch additional pressure on the Italian government to adopt structural reforms that could boost growth, reforms that are missing in the recent austerity plan intended to balance the budget in 2013.

The Berlusconi government intends to introduce such initiatives in the month but the ruling coalition is so weakened and divided as few analysts see it join forces to give carte blanche.

In Spain, the government reduced the deficit with a series of austerity measures, but most of the country's debt is regional and autonomous regions are still practicing their own cuts.

"We respect that decision but we disagree," said a spokesman for the Spanish Ministry of Economy.

The Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini was much drier, arguing that "markets have little to do with Fitch, Moody's and company."

Fitch also announced Friday it was maintaining Portugal under review with negative implications, it intends to resolve status in the fourth quarter.Portugal is rated BBB-by the agency.

Regarding the latter, the European Commission said it will send a team of experts to assist the authorities to redirect funds from the EU to the economic reforms agreed with the troika (EU, International Monetary Fund, Central Bank European).